By JULIE CARR SMYTH, Associated Press
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Ohio’s largest organization of doctors is backing Attorney General Mike DeWine for governor after the Republican reversed course and said he’d support, but improve, Medicaid expansion.
The Ohio State Medical Association PAC cited Medicaid in its Wednesday endorsement. It also mentioned DeWine’s commitment to increasing treatment options for opioid addiction, lowering prescription drug costs and reducing physicians’ administrative burdens.
Democrats leaped on DeWine’s reversal, pointing to his repeated statements against the expansion, which was made possible through the federal health care law many Republicans oppose.
Gov. John Kasich (KAY’-sik) was one of the expansion’s earliest Republican advocates. He’s said he wouldn’t endorse DeWine without assurances DeWine would support the low-income health insurance program.
Democratic gubernatorial nominee Richard Cordray supports the expansion and was using that to appeal to Kasich supporters.